Seraya Kecil is a tiny island about 0.5 miles (0.8km) off the northwest corner of the much larger island of Flores in eastern Indonesia. Seraya Kecil is only about 0.15 square miles (0.39 square km) in area. There appears to be no wikipedia article.. or much else published about this island. See speck below (and/or browse in the map above!).
We were picked up at the northern side of the Labuan Bago harbor (the Blue Pier) on the western coast of Flores. It’s a ~45 min ride by slow wooden boat and a ~20 min ride by speed boat depending on which you take.
The island has a small fishing village and two resorts on it, and we stayed at the smaller of the two, The Seraya. As you can tell from the water color, the ocean depth drops off quickly from shallow coral reefs to a deeper trench that supports boats.
The resort is a collection of ~30 buildings along the side of a small north-facing hill. There are ~25 small bungalows and a handful of staff and administrative structures. There is one large, sail-shaped restaurant that serves all meals and is the de facto social hub. On the beach there’s also a small platform with snorkel gear and a rack filled with kayaks. All areas are connected by well-constructed paths and it’s all very simple and easy to navigate. The jetty boards and paving stones all get very hot in the sun though so wear flip-flops or sandals!
The staff greets you warmly at the tip of the jetty and is always available and extremely friendly. Shout out to Oran and Susi (also our massage therapist)! The manager, Michael, was very nice and helpful with all sorts of things.
Rooms are kept clean and tidy. The AC is strong, something we learned not to assume.. and to require since it’s so hot and humid across Indonesia unless you’re on the water or in the mountains. As with many Indonesian villas, the bathroom is open air (behind the door shown in the left image actually), while the living space is enclosed. This works well, although it means that insects and rain may accompany you during your.. alone time.
Life is simple here. Enjoy the ocean. Eat good food. Relax. Repeat. It’s truly spectacular.
Did I mention good food? Despite being in the process of building a new kitchen (we were here at the tip beginning of the season), they had lots of tasty food. Here are some highlights. It’s important to note that familiar dishes are often done differently than you’re used to. For example, bananas in the US have become standardized (mostly Cavendish) and have a very mild flavor. In Indonesia there are over 300 types of bananas cultivated, and every one we’ve had has reminded us of why we loved bananas to begin with!
As Michael described, in a world of trying to stand out they couldn’t have the fastest internet access so they embraced unplugging! There is limited connectivity in limited areas (mostly at the restaurant), but otherwise leave the devices inside and go swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, etc or just relax and read a book.
The pool is also a great way to relax. It’s a nice-sized fresh-water infinity pool that is right near the ocean so you can perch on the edge and enjoy both!
The snorkeling is excellent, especially since it is best right off the tip of the jetty. There is a ton of active undersea life, including healthy coral. The resort is also working to encourage additional coral growth using reef restoration techniques. As a result you can easily snorkel for hours in fairly shallow water and along the drop off with thousands of sea creatures. Some highlights from below and from above on the jetty..
We borrowed kayaks and kayaked 1 mi (1.5 km) to an even smaller (and uninhabited, and as far as I know, unnamed) island. Amber found a seahorse! It played dead every time I tried to get a good picture of it then jetted away. Sneaky little bugger.
As a fitting end to our brief-but-beautiful island-off-an-island trip, we saw the sunrise over Flores, perfectly illuminating the ocean as we watched from the jetty.
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